BNN Weekly Report
This Week in the CBO, BMU, and GBRL
by Nat Wright-Kawolski
18 September 2306
CBO Playoff Tree
CBO Playoff Play-In Series Preview
NCA Playoffs - #5 Nordhagen Beach Party Boys (62-58) vs #4 Starlight Killers (68-52)
Season Series
Nordhagen Beach 4, Starlight 4
April 22-23 @NB: Star 8-4, NB 10-4
June 12-13 @Star: NB 4-0, Star 4-2
July 3-4 @NB: Star 3-2, NB 2-1
September 11-12 @Star: NB 6-1, Star 3-2
Analysis
This season marks the first time that Nordhagen Beach and Starlight will meet in the playoffs. While both teams have been in the playoffs in the same season three times, the Killers were eliminated in their first matchup in all three. In Starlight's four playoff appearances overall, they have yet to clinch a series. The Party Boys, on the other hand, have been one of the NCA's best teams over the years, appearing in the playoffs 10 straight years, including all nine seasons of the full CBO. Nordhagen Beach has won three NCA titles and one Sole Survivor Series (2301).
On offense, the Party Boys stepped back, finishing 8th in the NCA in runs scored (554). Part of the problem is that all of the production is in the front of the lineup: 2B Jumper Hayes (.306/18/63), LF Michael Fogcrawler (.265/30/71), CF Maxx Murtagh (.324/30/77), and RF Jonathan Angelou (.254/34/77).
The pitching was also not as good, though the Boys were 3rd in runs against (527) with the Starters ERA finishing 5th (4.21). There was no problem at all with the first two pitchers, SP Beachboy Nut (16-8, 3.15) and SP Ugio Church (14-11, 3.74), though Nut has his highest ERA since 2299 with Roxbury (4.30). The Bullpen ERA was also 5th (4.16), led by CL David "AntAgonist" Kidd (28 SV, 2.98). SP Tommy Beach (10-11, 5.39) had his worst ERA since 2297 (6.79) and will be relegated to the bullpen in the playoffs with SP Deedee Martinson (11-8, 4.87) getting the call as the third starter.
Starlight returns to the playoffs for the first time since 2302, also as the 4th seed. The Killers' revamped team and lineup did well in moving to 3rd in runs scored (650). While they are not as powerful of a team as some (6th with 159 HR), they were top three in every other offensive category, including 1st in stolen bases (84). The heart of the offense is 1B Oren Gep (.302/49/124) who came to the Killers last season in a surprise trade for prospect pitcher Scott Fuhr. Other 2306 contributors were SS Nick Maris (.313/18/70/14 SB), CF Glenn Higinbotham (.321/27/86/28 SB), C Biter Trout (.329/6/66), and RF Goody Cloyse (.312/19/87).
The pitching was not as good, finishing 7th in runs allowed (543). That was not the fault of the starting pitching, which finished 2nd in ERA (3.92). Ace SP Digger Vadim (11-12, 3.30) had his first losing season, though his ERA was better than his career average of 3.38. Still, he lost in faceoffs against other aces. SP Alex Alexson (16-6, 3.01) had more success overall, and SP Quest Dawg (12-9, 4.49) is still an up-and-coming pitcher who went 4-1, 3.58 since joining the KIllers from Spectacle Island in July. The bullpen was not good, finishing 10th in Bullpen ERA (5.93). CL Ryan Mills (30 SV, 4.55) was among the best in the bullpen, though Starlight could have competed for a title this season with a better pen.
Prediction
Starlight seems to be on the rise, but it is always dangerous to go against Nordhagen Beach's experience and overall success. We will pick the Boys to slightly edge the Killers, 2 games to 1.
SCA Playoffs - #5 Jamaica Plain Red Rockets (66-54) vs #4 University Point Deathclaws (71-49)
Season Series
University Point 9, Jamaica Plain 3
May 18-20 @UP: JP 5-4, UP 7-0, JP 8-2
June 1-3 @JP: UP 2-1, UP 11-4, UP 6-1
July 20-22 @UP: UP 9-2, UP 14-8, JP 10-2
August 24-26 @JP: UP 7-5, UP 12-7, UP 5-2
Analysis
Both franchises started slowly in finding success, but now they have both been in the playoffs six of the past seven seasons, with University Point appearing in seven straight. Jamaica Plain missed the playoffs in 2303. In 2305, the Deathclaws won it all, their second championship, and they come in with a 9-3 season series advantage in 2306, including winning all six games in Jamaica Plain. The Red Rockets have been on the brink of reaching the Sole Survivor Series twice, but lost by 4-3 margins in the SCA Final twice (2302 vs the Claws and 2304 vs Roxbury).
This season will mark the 5th time they have met in the playoffs with each team having won two series:
2300 Play-in: #4 Jamaica Plain 2, #5 University Point 1
2302 SCA Championship: #4 University Point 4, #2 Jamaica Plain 3
2304 SCA Semifinal: #2 Jamaica Plain 3, #3 University Point 2
2305 SCA Semifinal: #2 University Point 3, #3 Jamaica Plain 0
Jamaica Plain was consistently at or around 5th in the SCA in most offensive categories, including 5th in runs scored (611). However, they were the 2nd most powerful team with 195 home runs, including seven in the lineup who hit 12 or more. Rookie 21-year-old LF Ken Debate (.284/44/95) was phenomenal, making the trade that sent SP Digger Vadim to Starlight well worth it. Other top contributors included 2B Bulleye Shooterson (.323/31/86), CF Hid Matsumoto (.284/25/66), SS Jake Doucette (.289/21/60), and 1B Damani Beebe (.269/24/68). Other than the 8th and 9th spots, this lineup is formidable.
For pitching, the loss of Vadim was evident, even with the acquisition of SP Derek Green (16-11, 4.20) in the offseason. The Rockets finished 5th in runs allowed (577) and 8th in Starters ERA (4.75). While he finished with a losing record, SP Tim Fusion (12-13, 3.93) had the best overall performances on the season. SP Chris Deathclaw (9-12, 6.04) had his worst season with the Red Rockets and worst since 2299 with Finch Farm when he started 5-8 with a 6.34 ERA before being traded to Jamaica Plain where he finished the season at 7-12 with a 5.66 ERA. The Rockets' bullpen also struggled, finishing 7th with a 4.50 ERA. CL Doug Dee El (28 SV, 3.44) was OK, and RP T-Bone Heagy (5-3, 2.62) was their best overall performer from the pen.
University Point was an offensive juggernaut in 2305, but were not as good in 2306 despite still finishing 1st in runs scored (697). Part of the Deathclaws' problem this season has been the injury bug, losing both SS Austin Engill (.225/29/85) and RF Tomas Jones (.304/20/89) for significant amounts of time. Jones is out for the Play-in Round and would probably be out for the SCA Semifinals should the Claws win their first series. Someone who did not struggle was 1B Barker Cocoa (.401/45/128) who became the second player ever to hit over .400, seven points behind Jarrett Metalbox who hit .408 in 2298 for Easy Town, and will likely win his fourth-straight Nuka Hitter Award. CF Aesed Hayjen (.374/34/92/11 SB) also had another stellar season.
Pitching is not University Point's strength, but it was also not detrimental to success. The Deathclaws finished 6th in runs allowed (586), 6th in Starters ERA (4.60), and 8th in Bullpen ERA (4.61). The three playoff starters all helped: Tony Bertha (11-6, 3.37), Wilson Beachball (12-8, 4.28), and 37-year-old Phlip Wallace (12-8, 4.50). Nobody in the bullpen was outstanding, but RP Marc Pondsip (3-2, 3.05), 40-year-old Tom Mannequin (0-0, 2.87), and CL Chase Southie (30 SV, 3.77) all helped.
Prediction
The defending champions can still put up runs and they were highly successful against the Rockets. We will choose the Claws to take this one in three games, 2-1.